Vintage “Love is…” comics #tbt

Purrs and hooowdys, Kittens & Dawgs! I presenting to you my retro post editions in a new time with a new name, Throw Back Thursday (formerly Way Back Wednesday)!

Our school sold stuff like this to raise money for football, cheerleader, or band uniforms. I remember going door-to-door peddling it. I even had one of these groovy “Love” signs hanging on my bedroom wall. I wonder whatever happened to it? I wish I had it!

Everything seemed groovy in the 70s. I don’t know why I thought of this, other than perhaps subconsciously the seed got planted by the return of blogger pal, McGuffy Ann’s Monday inspiration post she calls “Sparks” and so like that *snap* the cartoon series “Love is” popped in my mind. Do you remember this popular comic?

“Love is” is a single cartoon illustration designed by New Zealand artist, Kim Casali, for her then husband-to-be, Robert Casali in the 60s. The series started as love notes to Robert that were published in booklets later in the decade before breaking into the newsprint of the 70s. Her cartoons became widely syndicated around the and her most popular phrase was “Love is being able to say you’re sorry…” in 1972; appearing on cards and souveniors, which I actually remember.

After Robert became terminally ill, Kim hired Bill Asprey, a London artist, to resume her drawings under her name to spend time with her husband. No doubt the sketches I grew up enjoying Asprey drew who began in 1975 and continues to the comic now. After Kim’s death in 1997, Stefano, her son took over MiniKim the company that manages the intellectual rights. What does that mean anyhow?

Kim’s sentiments began with her husband and these expressions are felt by many still. I believe we need a dose of “Love is” today, so I’m gonna share with you samples of Kim’s work that is sure to make you smile.

The “Love is” cartoon has a sentimental place in my heart because this is something I enjoyed reading during my courtship with DH. Experiencing such deep love for DH, I now know just how much Kim loved Robert. It’s obvious because the way she felt for her husband matches the way I feel for mine. Love is more than love for a partner. Love is being able to count on a friend, like you!

These good feeling, positive vibes of love begin first within each of us and it’s up to us to nuture this love, sharing it with one special person, then spreading it to others. After all Love is….

Did you read the “Love is…” comics?

Do you remember the melted plastic popcorn art?

Write your own phrase, how would you finish, Love is….?

That’s all for now. I want to encourage you to join my email circulation (see side menu) to not miss the latest mews from Curious as a Cathy. I invite you join me next time for Friday Fun Stuff!

Mary used to collect the “Love Is” cartoons and give them to her old boyfriend (the last one before me). I think she gave me a few, too, then none of the papers in Chicago carried it anymore.

I heard they banked some of Kim’s husband’s sperm and she impregnated herself with it and had another kid after he died. Not sure how I feel about that, but if it makes her happy…

“Love is…” worth fighting for.

And no, I don’t remember melted plastic popcorn, but I had this thing where you took a thing that looked like a soldering iron and melted crayons to color in a picture, and it gave kind of the same effect. I was never good at it.

I LOVE THIS! I used to collect these cartoons and put them in Bill’s lunch. Yes. This goes right in line with Sparks. We do need more LOVE, more positive energy, more respect. It really is that simple. HUGS, my friend.

I do remember the “Love Is” comic panels. My second wife’s mother liked them. She used to always have a few up on her refrigerator and when she sent us cards or something when we were traveling, invariably there would always be a “Love Is” panel clipped from the paper and included with whatever else she sent us.

I also remember that weird artwork. I think there was something made of that stuff around my mother’s house. I think my youngest sister had something like that Love sign. Have no idea what they did with it though.